Chapter 181: Emperor! This Is Zhang Biao’s 《public Order Memorial》! 【monthly Ticket Bonus Update 15】
“I wish to save the nation, but I am powerless to turn the tide!”
“I laugh at the heavens with my sword in hand, my loyalty and courage for both Kunluns!”
These two sentences echoed around the execution ground like demonic incantations.
So much so that even though Zhang Biao had already been beheaded, the people around the execution ground hadn’t reacted, as if time had stood still.
After an unknown period, a cry of utter grief suddenly broke the deathly silence.
“Lord Zhang—!”
No one expected that the first to cry out would not be Shen Lang and his companions, nor Zhu Yunteng and his sister, nor the three brothers Zhu Gaochi, but a rough man in a blood-stained apron from the crowd.
As his cry rang out, everyone who had been in a state of deathly silence instantly came to their senses.
【 It’s over… I… I’ve committed an immense crime… 】
The moment Liu Sanwu regained his senses, it was as if his spine had been removed; his body swayed violently, and if not for the timely support of a minor official beside him, he would have collapsed to the ground.
His face was as pale as paper, his lips trembling, and his eyes stared blankly at the execution platform.
Admittedly, he and Zhang Biao had some disagreements, but there was no great hatred between them.
At most, it was a verbal dispute.
And these were the most normal occurrences in front of the Emperor.
Because what the Emperor wanted to see was the confrontation between his officials.
If his officials were all in harmony, then the Emperor would be restless.
Therefore, setting aside their political differences, Liu Sanwu only hated Zhang Biao to the bone verbally, wishing to kill him quickly.
In reality, he had always protected himself and was unwilling to be the villain.
However, Old Zhu’s purpose in ordering him to supervise the execution was simple: as a representative of Confucianism, his presence was to stage a play for the scholars and civil and military officials of the world.
After all, Zhang Biao’s words and actions had offended not only the esteemed officials of the court but also the scholars of the realm.
Old Zhu, in his grief over Zhu Biao’s death, had initiated a killing spree, causing widespread panic. If the hearts of the people and officials were not stabilized at this time, it could easily lead to unrest.
Therefore, Old Zhu had no choice but to kill Zhang Biao.
This was the fundamental objective.
In the face of national interests, loyal officials were like leeks.
However, after Zhang Biao’s series of astonishing actions, this play had failed.
If Zhang Biao had obediently accepted his death, the outcome would not have been so bad.
But Zhang Biao’s frantic words and actions before his death had not only ruined the play but had even torn down the stage.
This was also why Liu Sanwu, enraged and ashamed, had no choice but to ignore Commander Jiang’s order and receive the imperial decree on his own.
Of course, Zhang Biao’s words and actions had indeed touched the bottom line of Confucianism. As a representative of Confucianism, it was understandable that he defended the orthodox tradition of Confucianism.
But when Zhang Biao, who was seen as a savior of the nation and its people, was executed, the entire matter took on a different meaning.
Then, what kind of image did he, as the execution supervisor, project?
Let’s put it this way.
After Qin Hui killed Yue Fei, he came to toast him, saying, “Brother, you’re more impressive than me. I’ll drink first.”
It was probably that kind of image.
Therefore, at this moment, he felt nothing but a chilling emptiness in his heart.
Especially when he saw the grief-stricken reactions of the surrounding commoners, the low-ranking capital officials, and even the old soldiers, a huge, ominous premonition seized him.
He felt as if he had personally severed an invisible pillar supporting something, and he dared not imagine the consequences.
As for scholars like Fang Xiaoru, they were also stunned by Zhang Biao’s words and actions before his death.
They looked at the execution platform, at the sorrowful crowd around them, and heard the suppressed cries from a distance, their minds were blank.
Was this the “traitor to the nation” and “demonic person” they had so vehemently called for the execution of?
Why did his death not bring the “righteousness prevailing” they had imagined, but instead felt like… like something precious had been destroyed?
Wasn’t that 《letter requesting the beheading of the traitor Zhang Biao to clarify matters and bring peace to the scholars of the realm》 filled with many crimes of Zhang Biao that angered gods and men? And the recent bloodshed, wasn’t it all because of Zhang Biao? Shouldn’t everyone have hated him immensely?
How could this be?
Could it be… we were manipulated?
This thought, like a viper, instantly burrowed into the hearts of many scholars.
“It’s you! It’s you pedantic Confucian scholars! You forced Zhang Qingtian to his death—!”
From the crowd, an old soldier in ragged military uniform could no longer suppress his emotions and let out a hoarse, tear-filled roar!
This roar, like a massive stone thrown into a still pond, instantly stirred up a thousand waves!
“Right! You forced Censor Zhang to his death!”
“Brother Biao sought back pay for us! Investigated corrupt officials! What kind of traitor to the nation was he?!”
“You scholars who only move your lips! You don’t understand anything!”
More and more commoners began to agree, their angry gazes shooting like knives at the scholars in Confucian robes.
Fang Xiaoru’s body trembled violently, his face turning from white to red, then from red to blue.
He also realized he had been manipulated, but when he thought of Zhang Biao’s attacks on Confucianism? His distorted interpretation of the 《Analects》, he felt he was not wrong. Zhang Biao slandered Sacred Learning, and for that alone, he deserved death.
Therefore, he sharply straightened his almost bowed spine and, with all his strength, let out a sharp and trembling refutation to the enraged commoners:
“Ignorant masses! You have all been misled by Zhang Biao’s wicked words! He slandered Sacred Learning, shook the foundation of the nation, and deserved to die!”
“Sacred Learning shines brightly, how can it be blasphemed?! Our commitment to defending the Way is witnessed by heaven and earth!”
Although his voice still carried its inherent arrogance, upon closer listening, one could detect a subtle trace of bluster and panic.
Seeing Fang Xiaoru speak, other scholars seemed to find their backbone and also began to clamor, pointing at the commoners and scolding them as “utterly foolish” and “deceived by a demonic person.”
Among the commoners, there were also those who understood reason, and they also roared, “Why don’t those who defend the Way die, like Censor Zhang,” and “All pedantic scholars deserve to die.”
For a time, around the execution ground, the scholars’ accusations and the commoners’ roars intertwined, the scene was chaotic and almost out of control.
On the execution platform, Jiang Huan watched all this coldly.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Liu Sanwu, whose face was ashen, and a very subtle yet bone-chilling curve formed at the corner of his mouth. His eyes seemed to say: 【 You’re dead. 】
Then, he ignored the ensuing chaos and indifferently ordered Chang Sen, the commander of the Five City Patrols, who was beside him:
“Maintain order, disperse the noisy crowd. Protect the execution ground. Without the Emperor’s decree, no one is allowed to approach the execution platform, especially Zhang Biao’s body.”
Having said this, he abruptly turned and, surrounded by a group of Imperial Guards, went directly to the palace to report his mission, leaving the chaos and indignation behind him.
On the south side of the viewing platform, Zhu Mingyu’s eyes rolled back the moment she saw the glint of the blade, and she fainted, slumping into her sister Zhu Mingyue’s arms.
Zhu Mingyue’s face was so pale that it had no trace of color. She held her sister tightly, tears falling silently, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Zhu Yunteng clenched his teeth, his nails digging deeply into his palm, drawing blood. He forcibly composed himself and ordered the palace attendants around him: “Return to the palace.”
Then, he turned and walked towards the carriage first.
The moment he bent down to step into the carriage, the tears he had held back finally broke through, gushing out.
He bit his lip tightly, making no sound, only his violently trembling shoulders betraying his inner breakdown.
On the outskirts of the crowd, Shen Lang, Sun Gui, Li Mo, Wu Nai Da, and Zhao Fengman stood like five statues, staring blankly at the execution platform.
Their minds were blank, as if the entire world had lost its sound and color.
It wasn’t until the Imperial Guards began to disperse the crowd, pushing them away, that they, as if sleepwalking, stumbled back with the flow of people.
Just then, in the sky, without any warning, fine, cold snowflakes began to fall.
“Look! It’s snowing!”
Someone shouted, and the crowd erupted again.
The snowflakes landed on Shen Lang and the others’ faces, their cold touch bringing them back to a semblance of reality.
“Celebrate…”
Shen Lang muttered two words unexpectedly, then suddenly looked at Li Mo and the other three, a strange light flashing in his eyes. He looked up and said:
“Celebrate! Yes! Celebrate! Brother Biao said that if he died, we should celebrate!”
“Tonight! Let’s eat pig’s head meat together! Buy five! Just like that day—!”
He almost roared it out, his voice hoarse.
Li Mo and the other three were stunned and somewhat at a loss.
At this moment, Zhao Fengman was the first to react, his eyes red, and he choked out:
“And… and Shao Daozi liquor! As much as you want!”
“Right! Shao Daozi liquor goes perfectly with pig’s head meat!” Wu Nai Da reacted quickly as well.
Li Mo looked at them, sighed, and tilted his head back, letting the snowflakes fall on his face, mixing with the warm liquid that flowed down. He let out a long, trembling sigh:
“To die for righteousness… Brother Biao achieved it…”
Sun Gui suddenly slapped Li Mo on the back with such force that Li Mo stumbled. He cursed in a gruff, tearful voice, “That bastard! He just wanted to be a hero! Clearly… clearly he said we were heroes! He stole our spotlight!”
After saying this, he wiped his face forcefully and roared:
“Let’s go! Let’s go eat pig’s head meat! Celebrate him becoming a hero! We… we’ll be the cowards!”
“Hahaha! Right! Be cowards!”
“Celebrate Brother Biao becoming a hero!”
The crowd echoed with cries and laughter.
Then, supporting each other, they stumbled away and disappeared into the snowy street corner.
Their laughter was more heart-wrenching than their cries.
In the distance, the curtain of the Prince Yan’s Mansion carriage was quietly lowered.
Zhu Gao Sui wiped away the tears that kept flowing, his voice thick with a nasal tone, asking:
“Eldest Brother… Brother Biao is dead, has the ‘dawn’ that Father King spoke of arrived?”
Zhu Gaochi’s face was full of bitterness, and he slowly shook his head.
After a moment, he looked towards Beiping, then towards the majestic Imperial Palace, his eyes filled with extreme complexity, and murmured in a low voice:
“Perhaps it has arrived… perhaps, it has become darker…”
“Damn it!”
Zhu Gao Xu slammed his fist against the carriage wall, his eyes bloodshot, gritting his teeth:
“These sons of bitches! They forced a loyal minister who served the nation and its people to death! And Grandpa Emperor…”
“Silence—!”
Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Gaochi’s face changed drastically, and he stopped him sternly: “Do you want to doom the entire Prince Yan’s Mansion? Return to the mansion!”
Soon, the carriage drove away silently in the falling snow from this place that had witnessed too much blood, tears, and anger.
The snow fell heavier and heavier.
Gradually covering the bloodstains on the execution ground, covering the clamor of the streets, and attempting to cover the endless sorrow of the world and the impending turmoil.
Zhang Biao was dead.
But the storm he had stirred up was far from over.
…
Meanwhile, in Huagai Hall.
Old Zhu had just received a message that was clearly somewhat delayed.
“Your… Your Majesty! It’s… it’s not good! The execution ground… something has happened at the execution ground again!”
Old Zhu’s eyes snapped open. An extremely ominous premonition seized him, and his voice was hoarse and low:
“What happened now?! What does that scoundrel… want to do?!”
At this moment, he only wished to hear the news of Zhang Biao’s head rolling.
The young eunuch was so terrified he almost wet himself. He prostrated himself on the ground and stammered:
“Reporting to Your Majesty, that Zhang Biao… at the execution ground… forced the civil and military officials and nobles to… to donate ‘burial goods’ to him!”
“What?!”
Old Zhu sprang up from the dragon throne as if struck by lightning, his eyes widening, bloodshot.
He could hardly believe his ears!
Forced donations?!
At the execution ground?! To all the civil and military officials and dukes and marquises?!
This was no longer absurd!
This was dragging the dignity of the Great Ming Dynasty and the reputation of Zhu Yuanzhang through the dirt, rubbing it with the soles of shoes, and spitting on it several times!
“You… explain it to us clearly! What exactly happened?!”
Old Zhu’s voice was distorted by extreme shock and anger.
The young eunuch was petrified and stammered out the situation reported by the Imperial Guards:
How Zhang Biao enthusiastically “invited” everyone to be buried with him, how he accurately pointed out the corruption of Vice Minister Liu regarding river work funds and the scandal of Commander Li’s son misusing military pay…
And how those officials and nobles with dirty secrets were so terrified that they threw jade pendants, gold ingots, and even tiger rank insignia in a panic…
How the entire execution ground became a chaotic mess, like a disaster relief charity sale…
As the young eunuch narrated, the color drained from Old Zhu’s face, replaced by a terrifying pallor.
His body began to tremble uncontrollably, not from fear, but from extreme anger.
He could almost see the scene:
His trusted ministers, the nobles he had enfeoffed, at the execution ground personally established by his imperial decree, were being singled out and extorted by a condemned prisoner as if he were lecturing his grandson, making a complete spectacle of themselves!
The dignity of his Great Ming Dynasty, the authority of Emperor Hongwu, at this moment, was crushed by Zhang Biao in the most rogue and heart-piercing way!
“Li Jinglong… Guo Ying… Jade belt… Rank insignia…”
Old Zhu squeezed these words out through his teeth, each word carrying ice shards.
These two useless individuals! To be so terrified! They had completely disgraced the noble faction!
“Good… Very good!”
Old Zhu laughed in extreme anger, his laughter more unpleasant than crying, filled with a violent impulse to destroy everything:
“Well done, Zhang Biao! Well done, ‘spot donation’! You’re going to rip off the last fig leaf of our Great Ming court!”
He suddenly kicked over the imperial desk in front of him.
“Boom—!”
Memorials, ink brushes, paperweights, imperial seals… scattered all over the floor!
“I will grind you into a million pieces!”
Old Zhu, like a cornered beast gone mad, let out a desperate roar that shook the entire Huagai Hall:
“Issue an edict! Ring the bell! Ring the bell to remind them!”
“No beheading! No beheading! That’s too easy for him!”
“Tie him to a copper pillar! Use a small fire! Roast him slowly! Scorch his skin! Dry his blood! Grind his bones to dust!”
“I want to make it so he cannot live or die!”
“Collect the oil that drips from his roasting! Use it for the Lantern Festival!”
“Grind the remaining bone fragments into powder! Scatter them into the latrine! Let him never be reborn—!”
This venomous roar, filled with the emperor’s insane desire for revenge after his ultimate grievance, echoed in the empty hall, as if freezing the very air.
Yun Ming and the young eunuch who had delivered the message were already paralyzed with fear on the ground, their faces ashen, unable to even beg for mercy.
Old Zhu’s chest heaved violently, and he gasped for breath, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the direction of the execution ground outside the hall, as if he could spit fire and turn Zhang Biao to ashes.
Dismemberment! Grinding bones and scattering ashes!
This was the only punishment he could think of at this moment that would bring him the most satisfaction!
However, at the very moment this monstrous rage threatened to consume all his reason—
“Clang!”
The bell for the third quarter of noon rang.
Old Zhu, Yun Ming, and the young eunuch who had delivered the message all paused simultaneously.
Clearly, as the bell rang, heads would fall.
They knew without thinking that Zhang Biao had been killed at this moment.
But Old Zhu only paused for a moment before snorting coldly, “Hmph! Is he finished just because he’s dead? Will his death quell my anger!?”
“Yun Ming!”
“Your… your servant is here!”
Yun Ming, his voice trembling, crawled forward.
“Issue an edict!”
“Zhang Biao is guilty of heinous crimes! He disregarded the law of the land! He disrespected the Emperor! To demonstrate the law of the land! To vent the people’s wrath! His corpse shall be whipped for a hundred days! His body shall be exposed for a hundred days! As a warning to others!”
“Your… your servant obeys the edict!”
Yun Ming’s face turned ashen with fear.
However, just as he was about to go and transmit the edict, an Imperial Guard sent by Jiang Huan arrived.
“Your Majesty! The condemned prisoner Zhang Biao has a 《Public Order Memorial》 to present—!”
A 《Public Order Memorial》?
Old Zhu was startled again, then frowned and asked, “What 《Public Order Memorial》?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the confession Zhang Biao wrote before his execution. He called it a 《Public Order Memorial《 and wished to present it to you personally! He also instructed Commander Jiang not to read it, threatening death to his entire family if he did!” the Imperial Guard replied truthfully.
Old Zhu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Like Jiang Huan, he instinctively felt it was a trap, but he had to see it, especially since Zhang Biao was likely already dead.
And this so-called 《Public Order Memorial《 might be the only letter he left behind.
Perhaps it contained earth-shattering secrets he dared not speak of in life but could reveal in death.
【 Could it be… related to Biao’er’s death? 】
【 Or perhaps… Xiu Ying? 】
Thinking of this, Old Zhu stared intently outside the hall, and after a moment, he asked, “Is Zhang Biao dead?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, before this subordinate arrived, he had not yet been executed. However, on the way here, I happened to encounter the eunuch delivering Your Majesty’s edict. Now that the bell for the third quarter of noon has rung, he should be dead.”
Hearing this, Old Zhu couldn’t help but sigh in relief and said coldly, “Present it!”
“Yes!”
Soon, Yun Ming nervously took the 《Public Order Memorial《 and handed it to Old Zhu.
Old Zhu gazed at it for a moment, then slowly unfolded it.
【 Ah! Beheading hurts so much, too much! 】
【 Old Zhu, do you know how Zhu Xiongying died? 】
【 Please see the back—! 】
…
Requesting double monthly tickets~
The last few hours.
Writing the next chapter, don’t rush! I’ll post it when it’s done! ()
